Random Thoughts

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Ya, been thinking once they have things rolling to go over to catch a launch. I did get to see a shuttle go up from about 20 miles away once.... very cool. Watched a lot of shuttles go up from home, across the state back in the day.
 
Saw the smoke trail as it went, and one red flash which I think is booster separation. Falcon 9 going up at 7:55 in the morning tomorrow from the cape.
 
The fun part about spraying red paint is, I never know if the red spots on the floor are paint or blood, and then trying to scrub some off of your finger only to find it's a blood blister....
 
I find it interesting that these particular astronauts are being treated like John Glenn. We know all their names and backgrounds before a launch that is getting huge coverage. Yet we have astronauts going to the space station all the time and we really only get a lot of coverage about them when they get stuck up there or have to return early.
 
Darrell Green Fan said:
I find it interesting that these particular astronauts are being treated like John Glenn. We know all their names and backgrounds before a launch that is getting huge coverage. Yet we have astronauts going to the space station all the time and we really only get a lot of coverage about them when they get stuck up there or have to return early.
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I think part of it is trying to get the public behind it. Just like in the past, there are many who feel we shouldn't be spending the money on space exploration.
 
Miles Monroe said:
I think part of it is trying to get the public behind it. Just like in the past, there are many who feel we shouldn't be spending the money on space exploration.
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That's a good point, it's PR. I am torn, I think it's really cool and reminds me of my youth. And I understand the pocket calculator is just one of the countless inventions brought about by the space program. But there is still a part of me that believes the money could be better utilized elsewhere.
 
Darrell Green Fan said:
That's a good point, it's PR. I am torn, I think it's really cool and reminds me of my youth. And I understand the pocket calculator is just one of the countless inventions brought about by the space program. But there is still a part of me that believes the money could be better utilized elsewhere.
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Something to remember this time around... it's more then NASA funding it. There's a lot to gain by companies that can get their system / product on the moon. That's a lot of R&D NASA isn't laying out for, and that's the biggest drain on the program in my opinion. With multiple companies working the same problem, it also speeds up the process. Production is the easy part.
 
Miles Monroe said:
Ya, been thinking once they have things rolling to go over to catch a launch. I did get to see a shuttle go up from about 20 miles away once.... very cool. Watched a lot of shuttles go up from home, across the state back in the day.
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One of the great regrets of my life was not going down to catch a shuttle launch.

I was a huge Shuttle guy. The first Shuttle launch, Columbia, in April 1981, I was 5. We watched it before school, and then it was on the news and we watched it later that evening. And I became obsessed.

For reasons I don’t understand, I just fell in love with Columbia more than the other 4 shuttles, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavor and Atlantis.

I was horrified with the Challenger disaster. And cried like a baby when Columbia disintegrated during re-entry.

Anyway, I always wanted to go see a launch. Never did and I regret it.

I do love to go to the udvar hazy center and just sit and look at Discovery. I’d be happy to just sit there and gaze at it for hours.
 
Darrell Green Fan said:
I find it interesting that these particular astronauts are being treated like John Glenn. We know all their names and backgrounds before a launch that is getting huge coverage. Yet we have astronauts going to the space station all the time and we really only get a lot of coverage about them when they get stuck up there or have to return early.
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This is the first time we’re sending people to the moon in 50 years.

It’s a very different type of mission. New technology, etc

And this is a stepping stone to Mars. Which will be a huge and enormous deal when it happens.

There was a time when I knew the name of every shuttle astronaut. I looked it up in the newspaper and cut them out and taped the em to my wall as a kid.

I personally love the fact astronauts are getting a little more publicity.
 
Darrell Green Fan said:
That's a good point, it's PR. I am torn, I think it's really cool and reminds me of my youth. And I understand the pocket calculator is just one of the countless inventions brought about by the space program. But there is still a part of me that believes the money could be better utilized elsewhere.
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In the money front, maybe? Space exploration has driven innovation in so many ways.

Maybe the next big thing is just waiting to be invented and will help countless people in unknown ways.

There’s a great West Wing episode on space exploration. Miami need to go watch it…
 
I get your point DGF - but as Voice said, not only is this the first time we are going back to the moon in 50 years, I think you have to look at it in the context of the current generation. Going back and forth to the space station has become a little pedestrian. I know that is your actual point, that it is anything BUT pedestrian and these folks literally put their lives on the line every mission and deserve to be celebrated. But it has been a long time since a generation got to experience actually leaving Earth orbit and traveling to another 'world'. Seeing it on old You Tube videos and experiencing it in real time are two different things emotionally. It is a big deal and I get why they are making it a big deal.

I also think that, since Challenger, there is heightened awareness that 'something catastrophically bad' can happen at any time, so there is an increased focus on humanizing these folks which is entirely understandable.

Finally, this is a brand new program. There was a huge difference even back in the day in the attention and focus on the early moon missions (which transfixed the entire human race) and the last few trips to the moon which got minimal coverage. It's just human nature - the spectacular and death-defying becomes humdrum pretty quickly. Artemis is a new vehicle and system, unproven, and doing daring things. America is back in space in a huge way it hasn't been in decades and it is rightfully getting massive attention.
 
Boone said:
I get your point DGF - but as Voice said, not only is this the first time we are going back to the moon in 50 years, I think you have to look at it in the context of the current generation. Going back and forth to the space station has become a little pedestrian. I know that is your actual point, that it is anything BUT pedestrian and these folks literally put their lives on the line every mission and deserve to be celebrated. But it has been a long time since a generation got to experience actually leaving Earth orbit and traveling to another 'world'. Seeing it on old You Tube videos and experiencing it in real time are two different things emotionally. It is a big deal and I get why they are making it a big deal.

I also think that, since Challenger, there is heightened awareness that 'something catastrophically bad' can happen at any time, so there is an increased focus on humanizing these folks which is entirely understandable.

Finally, this is a brand new program. There was a huge difference even back in the day in the attention and focus on the early moon missions (which transfixed the entire human race) and the last few trips to the moon which got minimal coverage. It's just human nature - the spectacular and death-defying becomes humdrum pretty quickly. Artemis is a new vehicle and system, unproven, and doing daring things. America is back in space in a huge way it hasn't been in decades and it is rightfully getting massive attention.
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I get all this. And I agree it's exciting. I just feel badly for the "other astronauts" who have become afterthoughts. I also question the money aspect as we are talking about cutting Medicare benefits to seniors. But that discussion is for another place.
 
Today, the crew of Artemis II reaches a milestone, traveling farther than any humans in recorded history, as they orbit the far side of the Moon, roughly 4,000 miles above the lunar surface.

You can watch this historic broadcast on NASA's YouTube channel today, April 6, 2026, at 10 AM Pacific (1 PM Eastern). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-j1uxBmis0
 
Been watching some boxing videos from before my time. Hagler, good f'n grief, straight maniacal magician and that switch, nuts. Finally got around to watching the Ray fight, robbed, Leonard danced did rabbit punches of nothing. Even more props he left that circus cuz the money was in the rematch as he stated.
 
Somewhere in my house, I have a dvd of the Sugar Ray Leonard/Roberto Duran 'No Mas' fight...
 
This mornings dog walk…

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